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Gauteng: Informal settlements status - research reports research series published by the housing development agency - Housing Development ...
Gauteng: Informal
settlements status

       research reports

research series published by the Housing Development Agency
Gauteng: Informal settlements status - research reports research series published by the housing development agency - Housing Development ...
GAUTENG    research report

          The Housing Development Agency (HDA)
          Block A, Riviera Office Park,
          6 – 10 Riviera Road,
          Killarney, Johannesburg
          PO Box 3209, Houghton,
          South Africa 2041
          Tel: +27 11 544 1000
          Fax: +27 11 544 1006/7

          Acknowledgements
          • Eighty 20

            Disclaimer
            Reasonable care has been taken in the preparation
            of this report. The information contained herein
            has been derived from sources believed to be
            accurate and reliable. The Housing Development
            Agency does not assume responsibility for any
            error, omission or opinion contained herein,
            including but not limited to any decisions made
            based on the content of this report.

          © The Housing Development Agency 2012
Gauteng: Informal settlements status - research reports research series published by the housing development agency - Housing Development ...
page 1
                                                                     GAUTENG   research report

Contents
  Part 1: Introduction                                                                4

  Part 2: Data sources and definitions                                                5
  2.1 Survey and Census data                                                           5
  2.2 Other Data from Stats SA                                                         9
  2.3 National Department of Human Settlements (NDHS) and LaPsis                       9
  2.4 Eskom’s Spot Building Count (also known as the Eskom Dwelling Layer)             9
  2.5 Community Organisation Resource Centre (CORC)                                   10
  2.6 Municipal data: City of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni                             10
  2.6.1 City of Johannesburg                                                          10
  2.6.2 Ekurhuleni                                                                    11

  Part 3: The number and size of informal settlements in Gauteng                     12
  3.1 Estimating the number of households who live in informal settlements            12
  3.2 Estimating the number of informal settlements                                   15

  Part 4: Profiling informal settlements in Gauteng                                  17
  4.1 Basic living conditions and access to services                                  17
  4.2 Profile of households and families                                              19
  4.3 Income, expenditure and other indicators of wellbeing                           20
  4.3.1 Income                                                                        20
  4.3.2 Expenditure                                                                   21
  4.3.3 Other indicators of wellbeing                                                 21
  4.4 Age of settlements and permanence                                               21
  4.5 Housing waiting lists and subsidy housing                                       24
  4.6 Health and vulnerability                                                        25
  4.7 Education                                                                       27

  Part 5: Profiling informal settlements in the City of Johannesburg                 28
  5.1 Basic living conditions and access to services                                  28
  5.1.1 Household-level data                                                          28
  5.1.2 Settlement-level data                                                         30
  5.2 Profile of households and families                                              31
  5.3 Employment                                                                      31
  5.4 Age of settlements and permanence                                               32
  5.5 Education                                                                       32
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         GAUTENG    research report

         Contents
                   Part 6: Profiling informal settlements in City of Tshwane   33
                   6.1 Basic living conditions and access to services          33

                   6.2 Profile of households and families                      35

                   6.3 Employment                                              35

                   6.4 Age of settlements and permanence                       36

                   6.5 Education                                               36

                   Part 7: Profiling informal settlements in Ekurhuleni        37
                   7.1 Basic living conditions and access to services          37

                   7.1.1 Household-level data                                  37

                   7.1.2 Settlement-level data                                 39

                   7.2 Profile of households and families                      40

                   7.3 Employment                                              40

                   7.4 Age of settlements and permanence                       40

                   7.5 Education                                               41

                   Part 8: Conclusions                                         42

                   Part 9: Contacts and references                             43

                   Part 10: Appendix: Statistics South Africa surveys          44
                   10.1 Community Survey 2007                                  44

                   10.2 General Household Survey                               44

                   10.3 Income and Expenditure Survey 2005/6                   45

                   10.4 Census 2001                                            45

                   10.5 Enumerator areas                                       45
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                                                            GAUTENG   research report

List of abbreviations
  CORC       Community Organisation Resource Centre
  EA         Enumeration Area
  GHS        General Household Survey
  GIS        Geographical Information Systems
  GTI        GeoTerraImage
  HDA        Housing Development Agency
  HH         Households
  IES        Income and Expenditure Survey
  LaPsis     Land and Property Spatial Information System
  NDHS       National Department of Human Settlements
  PSU        Primary Sampling Unit
  Stats SA   Statistics South Africa
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         GAUTENG       research report

         part 1

         Introduction
                   In terms of the HDA Act No. 23, 20081, the Housing Development Agency (HDA), is mandated
                   to assist organs of State with the upgrading of informal settlements. The HDA therefore
                   commissioned this study to investigate the availability of data and to analyse this data relating to
                   the profile, status and trends in informal settlements in South Africa, nationally and provincially
                   as well as for some of the larger municipalities. This report summarises available data for the
                   province of Gauteng.

                   1
                       The HDA Act No.23, 2008, Section 7 (1) k.
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                                                                                                                 GAUTENG             research report

part 2

Data sources
and definitions
    A number of data sources have been used for this study. These include household level data from
    the 2001 Census and a range of nationally representative household surveys. Settlement level
    data was also reviewed, including data from the City of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, the NDHS,
    the HDA and Eskom.

    There is no single standard definition of an informal settlement across data sources, nor is there
    alignment across data sources with regard to the demarcation of settlement areas. It is therefore
    expected that estimates generated by various data sources will differ.

    It is critical when using data to be aware of its derivation and any potential biases or weaknesses
    within the data. Each data source is therefore discussed briefly and any issues pertaining to the
    data are highlighted. A more detailed discussion on data sources is provided in the national report
    on informal settlements.

    2.1 Survey and Census data
    Household-level data for this report was drawn from various nationally representative surveys
    conducted by Statistics South Africa including 2007 Community Survey (CS)2, the General
    Household Survey (GHS) from 2002 to 2009 and the 2005/6 Income and Expenditure Survey
    (IES)3. In addition, the study reviewed data from the 2001 Census4.

    The census defines an informal settlement as ‘An unplanned settlement on land which has not
    been surveyed or proclaimed as residential, consisting mainly of informal dwellings (shacks)’. In
    turn, the census defines an ‘informal dwelling’ as: ‘A makeshift structure not erected according
    to approved architectural plans’. In the 2001 Census all residential Enumeration Areas (EAs)5 are
    categorised as either Informal Settlements, Urban Settlements, Tribal Settlements or Farms. In
    addition, dwellings are categorised as either formal dwellings6 or informal dwellings, including
    shacks not in backyards, shacks in backyards and traditional dwellings. There are therefore two
    potential indicators in the 2001 Census that can be used to identify households who live in
    informal settlements, one based on enumeration area (Informal Settlement EA) and the other
    based on the type of dwelling (shack not in backyard).

    2
      T he Community Survey is a nationally representative, large-scale household survey. It provides demographic and socio-economic information such as
       the extent of poor households, access to facilities and services, levels of employment/unemployment at national, provincial and municipal level.
    3
       The Income and Expenditure Survey was conducted by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) between September 2005 and August 2006 (IES
        2005/2006). It is based on the diary method of capture and was the first of its kind to be conducted by Stats SA.
    4 
        The Census data is available for all SA households; where more detail is required the 10% sample of this data set is used. Choice of data set is
        highlighted where applicable.
    5
      An EA is the smallest piece of land into which the country is divided for enumeration, of a size suitable for one fieldworker in an allocated period
      of time. EA type is then the classification of EAs according to specific criteria which profiles land use and human settlement in an area.
    6
      Formal dwellings include house or brick structure on a separate stand, flat in a block of flats, town/cluster/semi-detached house, house/flat/room
      in backyard and a room/flatlet on a shared property.
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         GAUTENG    research report

                   According to the 2001 Census, 448,000 households in Gauteng (16% of households) lived in
                   an informal dwelling or shack not in a backyard in 2001 while 339,000 households (12% of
                   households) lived in EAs that are characterised as Informal Settlements. Just under 260,000
                   households lived in both.

                    cha rt   1

                      Cross-over of Type of Dwelling and Enumeration Area: Gauteng
                                             Total households who live in an informal settlement
                                             OR in a shack not in a backyard: 528 922

                                                                                          Main
                                                                                          dwelling:
                                                     EA: Informal       258 958           Informal
                                                     Settlement                           dwelling/
                                                     339 497            (9% of GA         shack not in
                                                                        households)       backyard
                                                     (12% of GA                           448 383
                                                     households)
                                                                                          (16% of GA
                                                                                          households)

                                                   76% of households who live in EAs classified as Informal
                                                   Settlements, live in shacks not in backyards

                                                   58% of households who live in shacks not in backyards,
                                                   live in EAs classified as Informal Settlements
                      Source: Census 2001.

                   Unlike census data, survey data does not provide an EA descriptor. However, surveys do provide
                   an indication of dwelling types, aligned with the main categories defined in the census. In the
                   absence of an EA descriptor for informal settlements, the analysis of survey data relies on a
                   proxy indicator based dwelling type, namely those who live in an ‘Informal dwelling/shack, not in
                   backyard e.g. in an informal/squatter settlement’.

                   Census data can provide an indication of the suitability of this proxy. According to the Census,
                   of those households in Gauteng who live in EAs categorised as Informal Settlements, 76% live in
                   shacks not in backyards. A further 12% of households in these EAs live in formal dwellings, 9%
                   live in shacks in backyards (it is not clear whether the primary dwelling on the property is itself a
                   shack) and 2% live in traditional dwellings.

                   Conversely the data indicates that 42% of all households in Gauteng who live in shacks not
                   in a backyard do not, in fact, live in EAs categorised as Informal Settlements. 37% live in EAs
                   categorised as urban settlements and 3% live in Farm EAs.
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                                                                                                         GAUTENG             research report

 cha rt    2

   Breakdowns of Type of Dwelling and Enumeration Area: Gauteng

               Housing type breakdown for                                                    EA breakdown for shacks
               Informal Settlement EAs                                                       not in backyards
               (Gauteng)                                                                     (Gauteng)

                Shack not                                                                   Informal                      Urban
                in backyard                    Formal                                       settlement                    settlement
                76%                            dwelling                                     58%                           37%
                                               12%

                                          Shack in
                                          backyard
                                            9%

                                                                                                                              Farm 3%
                                           Traditional dwelling 2%
                                        Other 1%                                                                          Other areas 2%

   Source: Census 2001.
   Note: Formal dwelling includes flat in a block of flats, dwelling on a separate stand, backyard dwelling, room/flatlet, and town/cluster/
   semi-detached house.

The analysis based on surveys using the dwelling type indicator ‘shack not in backyard’ to identify
households who live in informal settlements should therefore be regarded as indicative as there is
insufficient data in the surveys to determine whether these households do, in fact, live in informal
settlements as defined by local or provincial authorities.

A further challenge with regard to survey data relates to the sampling frame. In cases where
survey sample EAs are selected at random from the Census 2001 frame, newly created or rapidly
growing settlements will be under-represented. Given the nature of settlement patterns, informal
settlements are arguably the most likely to be under-sampled, resulting in an under-count of
the number of households who live in an informal settlement. Further, if there is a relationship
between the socio-economic conditions of households who live in informal settlements and the
age of the settlement (as it seems plausible there will be) a reliance on survey data where there is
a natural bias towards older settlements will result in an inaccurate representation of the general
conditions of households who live in informal settlements. This limitation is particularly important
when exploring issues relating to length of stay, forms of tenure and access to services. A second
word of caution is therefore in order: survey data that is presented may under-count households
in informal settlements and is likely to have a bias towards older, more established settlements.

An additional consideration relates to sample sizes. While the surveys have relatively large sample
sizes, the analysis is by and large restricted to households who live in shacks not in backyards,
reducing the applicable sample size significantly. Analysis of the data by province or other
demographic indicator further reduces the sample size. In some provinces the resulting sample
is simply too small for analysis, however this is not the case for Gauteng as summarised on the
next page.
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          GAUTENG            research report

          tab l e   1
                         Sample sizes in the different surveys

                                                    Census 2001                                     Community                           Income and                           General
                                                                                                    Survey 2007                         Expenditure                         Household
                                                                                                                                       Survey 2005/6                       Survey 2009

                                 Total      Total                        Households          Total          Sample               Total           Sample              Total          Sample
                                 number of number of                     living in           survey         size for             survey          size for            survey         size for
                                 households households                   informal            sample         households           sample          households          sample         households
                                            living in                    settlement          size           living in            size            living in           size           living in
                                            shacks                       EAs                                shacks                               shacks                             shacks
                                            not in a                                                        not in a                             not in a                           not in a
                                            backyard                                                        backyard                             backyard                           backyard

          Gauteng                2 839 067           448 383             339 497             53 776         8 175                2 496           352                 4 135          532

          City of      1 050 701                     133 366             75 255              19 375         2 243
          Johannesburg

          City of                482 789             82 700              50 548              11 656         2 447
          Tshwane

          Ekurhuleni             776 756             162 897             144 733             13 982         2 533

         Source: Census 2001 (10% sample), Community Survey 2007, IES 2005/6, GHS 2009; Household databases.

                            A final consideration relates to the underlying unit of analysis. Survey and census data sources
                            characterise individuals or households rather than individual settlements. These data sources
                            provide estimates of the population who live in informal settlements as well as indications of
                            their living conditions. The data as it is released cannot provide an overview of the size, growth
                            or conditions at a settlement level7 although it is possible to explore household-level data at
                            provincial and municipal level depending on the data source and sample size.

                            The definition of a household is critical in understanding household level data. By and large
                            household surveys define a household as a group of people who share a dwelling and financial
                            resources. According to Statistics SA ‘A household consists of a single person or a group of people
                            who live together for at least four nights a week, who eat from the same pot and who share
                            resources’. Using this definition, it is clear that a household count may not necessarily correspond
                            to a dwelling count; there may be more than one household living in a dwelling. Likewise a
                            household may occupy more than one dwelling structure.

                            From the perspective of household members themselves the dwelling-based household unit may
                            be incomplete. Household members who share financial resources and who regard the dwelling
                            unit as ‘home’ may reside elsewhere. In addition, those who live in a dwelling and share resources
                            may not do so out of choice. Household formation is shaped by many factors, including housing
                            availability. If alternative housing options were available the household might reconstitute itself
                            into more than one household. Thus, while the survey definition of a household may accurately
                            describe the interactions between people who share a dwelling and share financial resources for
                            some or even most households, in other cases it may not. The surveys themselves do not enable
                            an interrogation of this directly.

                             It may be possible for Statistics South Africa to match EA level data from the 2001 Census to settlements to provide an overview of specific
                            7

                             settlements. Given that the Census data is ten years old, and that conditions in informal settlements are likely to have changed significantly since
                             then, the feasibility of this analysis was not established.
page 9
                                                                                                              GAUTENG             research report

2.2 Other data from Stats SA
A dwelling frame count was provided by Stats SA for the upcoming 2011 Census. The Dwelling
Frame is a register of the spatial location (physical address, geographic coordinates, and place
name) of dwelling units and other structures in the country8. It has been collated since 2005
and is approximately 70% complete. The Dwelling Frame is used to demarcate EAs for the
2011 Census9.

There are 303 sub-places in Gauteng with at least one EA classified as ‘Informal Residential’10,
totalling 2,123 EAs (covering a total area of 160.18 square kilometres). There are Dwelling Frame
estimates for 240 (79%) of these ‘Informal Residential’ EAs, totalling 183,151 Dwelling Frames.
Since the Dwelling Frame is only approximately 70% complete, and not all units are counted
within certain dwelling types, the count should not be seen as the official count of dwellings or
households within the EA Type.

2.3 National Department of Human Settlements
(NDHS) and LaPsis
The 2009/2010 Informal Settlement Atlas compiled by the NDHS indicates there are 625 informal
settlement polygons in Gauteng. No household estimates are provided.

LaPsis (Land and Property spatial information system), an online system developed by the
HDA, builds on the data gathered by the NDHS and overlays onto it land and property data
including cadastre, ownership, title documents and deeds (from the Deeds Office), administrative
boundaries (from the Demarcation Board) and points of interest from service providers such as
AfriGIS11. The data indicates there are 625 informal settlements in Gauteng; 38 of these have a
household and shack count.

2.4 Eskom’s Spot Building Count (also known as
the Eskom Dwelling Layer)
Eskom has mapped and classified structures in South Africa using image interpretation and manual
digitisation of high resolution satellite imagery. Where settlements are too dense to determine
the number of structures these areas are categorised as dense informal settlements. Identifiable
dwellings and building structures are mapped by points while dense informal settlements are
mapped by polygons.

Shape files provided by Eskom revealed 310 polygons categorised as Dense Informal Settlements
in Gauteng, covering a total area of 16.91 square kilometres. The dataset does not characterise
the areas, nor does it match areas to known settlements. Latest available data is based on 2008
imagery. Eskom is currently in the process of mapping 2009 imagery and plans to have mapped
2010 imagery by the end of the year.

8 
   Bhekani Khumalo (2009), ‘The Dwelling Frame project as a tool of achieving socially-friendly Enumeration Areas‘ boundaries for Census 2011,
   South Africa‘, Statistics South Africa.
9
   An EA is the smallest piece of land into which the country is divided for enumeration, of a size suitable for one fieldworker in an allocated period
   of time. EA type is then the classification of EAs according to specific criteria which profiles land use and human settlement in an area.
   The EA descriptor for informal settlements in the 2011 Census is ‘Informal Residential’; in 2001 the EA type was ‘Informal Settlement’.
10 

11
   AfriGIS was given informal settlements data by the provincial departments of housing to create the map layers.
page 10
          GAUTENG        research report

                    2.5 Community Organisation Resource Centre
                    (CORC)
                    CORC is an NGO that operates in all provinces across the country, with the aim of providing
                    support to ‘networks of communities to mobilise themselves around their own resources and
                    capacities’12. In order to provide a fact base to enable communities to develop a strategy and
                    negotiate with the State with regard to service provision and upgrading, CORC profiles informal
                    settlements and undertakes household surveys. These surveys have been conducted in areas across
                    the country by community members in these settlements. Community members are trained by
                    CORC and are provided with a basic stipend to enable them to do their work. Improvements are
                    made to questionnaires using community consultation and professional verification. This ensures
                    that comprehensive and relevant data is collected. CORC also gathers other settlement level data
                    on service provision including the number and type of toilets and taps. A list of settlements that
                    have been enumerated recently in Gauteng is summarised below, together with household and
                    population estimates.

                     tab l e     2
                                       Enumeration of informal settlements by CORC in Gauteng

                     Name of settlement                   Date                            Number of households Population
                     Haroldds Farm                       July 2009                        93                                   261
                     Alberton                            November 2009                    265                                  1 024
                     Thulasizwe                          July 2010                        65                                   243
                     Montic                              July 2010                        50                                   186
                     Makause                             February 2011                    In progress                          In progress

                    2.6 Municipal data: City of Johannesburg and
                    Ekurhuleni
                    2.6.1 City of Johannesburg
                    The City of Johannesburg does not have a formal definition of informal settlements; however the
                    following working definition is used13: ‘An impoverished group of households who have illegally or
                    without authority taken occupation of a parcel of land (with the land owned by the Council in the
                    majority of cases) and who have created a shanty town of impoverished illegal residential structures
                    built mostly from scrap material without provision made for essential services and which may or may
                    not have a layout that is more or less formal in nature.’

                    The City of Johannesburg has a detailed database comprising 180 informal settlements across all
                    regions of the City. The latest available dataset was published in May 2010. In many cases maps
                    and aerial photographs are available over time. Settlement data includes:
                    • Informal settlement name
                    • Township name
                    • Region and Ward
                    • GPS co-ordinates
                    • Number of shacks
                    • Services (Water, Sanitation, Refuse)
                    • L and ownership (Gauteng province, City of Johannesburg, Council, Parastatal, Public, Private,
                       Combination, etc.)
                    • Year established
                    • S ettlement status (applications approved, in situ upgrading, planning phase, eviction, relocation, etc.)
                    12
                         See http://www.sasdialliance.org.za/about-corc/
                    13
                         John Maytham, Project Manager: Informal Settlement Formalization Unit, Development Planning and Urban Management.
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                                                                                                        GAUTENG             research report

Shack counts are based on 2009 aerial photographs. According to this data there are 195,474
shacks in 180 informal settlements in the municipality, although coverage is not complete14.
Between 2005 and 2007 the City of Johannesburg Department of Housing surveyed informal
settlements in the City with regard to access to key services including water and sanitation.
This data was used to populate the above mentioned dataset.

A household estimate published by the Development Planning and Urban Management
Department of the City of Johannesburg in 2009 placed the number of households living in
informal settlements as 220,000. It is unclear what underlying data or methodology was used to
generate this estimate.

The City of Johannesburg Department of Housing is currently in the process of appointing service
providers to compile socio-economic profiles of a number of informal settlements highlighted in
its 2008 Feasibility Studies.

2.6.2 Ekurhuleni
Reference documents used by the Ekurhuleni Municipality define an informal settlement15 as
follows: ‘As a basic characteristic, the occupation of the land is unauthorised. In addition, the use
of the land may be unauthorised, and in most cases the construction standards do not comply
with building regulations’16.

Ekurhuleni has a detailed database of informal settlement data. This includes:
• Informal settlement name
• Detailed description of location (city/town, nearest suburb, GPS co-ordinates)
• Date established
• Number of households
• Status (in-situ upgrade, relocation, time frame)
• Land ownership (municipal, private, Transnet, etc.)
• Classification (urgent relocation required/short-medium term plan/No short-medium term plans)
• Services (water, sanitation, lighting)
• Vulnerabilities (e.g. very serious dolomite, flooding, high density)
• Issues (e.g. toilets always blocked, declined chemical toilets)

According to its data set there are 114 informal settlements in the municipality with 160,336
households living in these settlements.

Ekurhuleni uses aerial photographs and surveys to profile informal settlements. This data has been
compiled since 2003 and updated with new information as this becomes available (for example,
new ortho-photos17 or shack counts). Where shack counts are not done, a perimeter is drawn
around each settlement on the GIS and the area calculated. The settlement is then plotted with a
grid overlay and a sample of one hectare sized blocks is counted. An average density per hectare
is established and used across the area. The last image count is based on 2007 photos. More
recent ortho-photography was generated in May 2010 but this has not yet been incorporated to
update the 2007 estimates.

   This excludes Adelaide Thambo (Transit Camp) and 14 others (Kew, Kliptown Firstgate (Old Houses), Kliptown Geelkamers, Kliptown Mandela
14 

   square, Kliptown Market, Kliptown Racecource, Lawley Dam, Lusaka, Mountain View, Naledi 2, Naledi 3, New Hani Park, Orlando Park (Not
   Coalyard), Wynburg.
   Ekurhuleni Municipality (2010), Informal Settlements: A growing misperceived phenomenon, Special Housing Portfolio Meeting 28 April 2010.
15 

   Source: Study into supporting informal settlements, Main Report, 28 August 2004 Prepared for Department of Housing, Pretoria by the
16 

   University of the Witwatersrand Research Team.
17
    Ortho-photos are aerial photographs that have been geometrically corrected so that distances are uniform and the photograph can be measured
     like a map.
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          GAUTENG        research report

          Part 3

          The number and size
          of informal settlements
          in Gauteng
                    3.1 Estimating the number of households who live
                    in informal settlements
                    According to the Census, 339,000 households in Gauteng (12% of households in the province)
                    lived in EAs classified as Informal Settlements in 200118. 77% lived in EAs classified as Urban
                    Settlements and a further 2% in EAs classified as Farms. Gauteng province accounts for 31% of
                    all households in informal settlement EAs in the country (it accounts for 24% of all households
                    overall).

                    Census data at a municipal level is summarised below for Gauteng.

                     tab le       3
                                         Households living in Informal Settlement EAs in Gauteng

                     Municipality                                  Number of HH in Informal                       % of HH in municipality/
                                                                   Settlement EA                                  province that live in Informal
                                                                                                                  Settlement EAs

                     City of Johannesburg                          75 255                                         7.2%

                     City of Tshwane                               50 548                                         10.5%

                     Ekurhuleni                                    144 733                                        18.6%

                     Metsweding                                    4 155                                          10.2%

                     Sedibeng                                      34 474                                         15.0%

                     West Rand                                     30 333                                         11.8%

                     Gauteng                                       339 497                                        12.0%
                    Source: Census 2001.

                    According to the 2007 Community Survey, 453,000 households (approximately 14% of households
                    in Gauteng) live in shacks not in backyards, versus 448,000 households (16% of households) in
                    2001 as reported by the Census. In terms of absolute numbers there was a marginal increase
                    of around 4,000 in the number of households living in shacks not in backyards between 2001
                    and 2007.

                    18
                         With regards to settlement type, Informal Settlement is one of the ten EA descriptors used.
page 13
                                                                                                  GAUTENG       research report

Census and survey data sources indicate that the provincial distribution of households living
in shacks not in backyards is heavily skewed towards Gauteng. According to the Census and
Community Survey roughly a third of households in shacks not in backyards live in this province
(roughly one quarter of all households in the country live in this province).

Survey-based estimates of the number of households who live in shacks not in backyards vary,
sometimes quite significantly. For instance, in 2007 the Community Survey estimates around
453,000 households living in shacks not in backyards in Gauteng while the 2007 GHS estimates
around 405,000 such households. Estimates based on the GHS indicate an annual growth of
7% between 2002 and 2009, while estimates based on the Census and Community Survey
indicate an annual growth of 0.2% between 2001 and 2007. The growth rate indicated by the
GHS may well reflect changes to the sampling frame rather than underlying dynamics, as well
as the initial estimate of 308,000 households in 2002 being too low (Census 2001 estimates
448,000 households). A comparison of census and survey data based on a number of sources is
summarised below.

cha rt    3

  Households by dwelling type: Gauteng
Number of
households
    (000s)
  4 000 –                                                                                                                – 4 000
                                                                                                   3 531
  3 500 –                                                                                  3 392                         – 3 500
                     3 176    2%                                                  3 258                    4%
                                                                         3 132
                                                                2 951                                           2 968
  3 000 – 2 836                                2 785 2 836                                                               – 3 000
                                      2 683

    600 –                                                                                                                – 600
                                                                                                                 175

    300 – 448         453              308      363     349      403      388      405      354     481          489 – 300
                             0.2%                                                                          7%

              16%     14%             11%      13%      12%      14%     12%      12%      10%      14%          16%
         0–                                                                                                              –0
              Census CS               GHS      GHS      GHS     GHS      GHS      GHS      GHS      GHS           IES
               2001 2007              2002     2003     2004    2005     2006     2007     2008     2009        2005/6
              2001: Number of households in Informal Settlement EAs:339 497 (12%)
                 Total households
                        HH lives in shack not in backyard

  Source: Census 2001 (full database), Community Survey 2007, IES 2005/6, GHS 2002-2009 (reweighted).
  Note: Dashed line indicates new sample designs for GHS (2002-2004, 2005-2007, 2008-2009).
page 14
          GAUTENG      research report

                    According to the 2007 Community Survey, at over 143,000 Ekurhuleni has the highest number
                    of households living in shacks not in backyards of all municipalities in Gauteng. The chart below
                    summarises municipal-level data for all shacks in Gauteng, including those not in backyards and
                    those in backyards.

              chart    4

               Households living in shacks (by municipality): Gauteng
                               Shack not in backyard                                             Shack in backyard

                               % of HH living in shacks not in backyard                          % of HH living in shacks in backyard
                               17%       20%       10%     16%       6%       17%                 8%      9%        7%     12%          8%      4%
               Number of                                                            Number of
               households                                                           households
                   (000s)                                                               (000s)
                   160 –                                                                120 –
                               143
                      140 –              135
                                                                                        100 –     98
                                                   121
                      120 –
                                                                                         80 –              77
                      100 –

                       80 –                                                              60 –
                                                                                                                    48
                       60 –
                                                                                         40 –
                       40 –                                   30                                                            23
                                                                                         20 –                                           19
                       20 –                                          15
                                                                              8
                                                                                                                                                 2
                           0–                                                              0–
                            Ekurhuleni            City of          Sedibeng                   City of            City of          Sedibeng
                                               Johannesburg                                Johannesburg         Tshwane
                                  City of Tshwane        West Rand        Metsweding                   Ekurhuleni        West Rand           Metsweding

               Source: Community Survey 2007.
page 15
                                                                                                 GAUTENG   research report

     Data from the 2001 Census and the 2007 Community Survey can be used to explore growth rates
     for households living in shacks at a municipal level. This data is summarised in the bubble chart
     below. The size of the bubble indicates the size of the segment in 2007 while its location along
     the x-axis indicates the annual rate of growth. Of course in some of these areas high growth has
     occurred off a very low base. For those areas with significant scale, the City of Tshwane has the
     highest rate of growth at 4% per annum.

chart   5

 Households living in shacks (by municipality) – CAGR: Gauteng
 Compound annual growth (2001 -2007)
 (Household lives in a shack not in a backyard, household lives in a shack in a backyard, Gauteng)

                                                                    City of
                                                                 Johannesburg
                                                                    97 879
                                                                     4%
                             Ekurhuleni
                              143 438               Sedibeng
                                -2%                  18 921
                                                      3%
                                                                                    Ekurhuleni
                                                               Metsweding            77 162
 Sedibeng                             West Rand                  1 865                 7%
  15 134                               23 000                     3%                                            City of
   -6%                       City of    0%                                                                     Tshwane
                          Johannesburg                                                                          48 464
                            120 701                                                                              13%
                              -2%
                                                                City of Tshwane
                                                                    135 352
                                                                      4%
 West Rand                   Metsweding
  29 982                       7 974
   -6%                          -1%

    -6%                -3%                 0%                  3%                 6%                 9%       12%
    HH lives in shack not in backyard       HH lives in backyard shack

 Source: Census 2001 and Community Survey 2007.
 Note: 2005 provincial borders have been used.
 Note: CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate (between 2001 and 2007).

     3.2 Estimating the number of informal settlements
     While survey and census data provide an estimate based on households, various data sources
     provide estimates of the number of informal settlements. Both the LaPsis data and the Atlas data
     set from the NDHS indicate 625 informal settlements.

     Available data sources at a ‘settlement’ level are summarised below together with household
     level data based on the 2001 Census and the 2007 Community Survey. Note that settlements are
     identified and defined differently in these data sources.
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              GAUTENG           research report

           tabl e   4
                           Estimates and/or counts of informal settlements and households

                                                    Number of informal settlements                                              Number of households in informal
                                                                                                                                          settlements

                                     LaPsis:     Atlas:              Stats SA:           Eskom:     Municipal Census                      Census          Community Municipal
                                     Informal    Informal            Sub places          Polygons estimates 2001: HH                      2001: HH        Survey    estimates
                                     settlements settlement          with at least       classified           in informal                 in shacks       2007: HH
                                                 polygons            one EA              as ‘Dense            settlement                  not in          in shacks
                                                                     classified as       Informal’            EA                          backyards       not in
                                                                     ‘Informal                                                                            backyards
                                                                     Residential’

           City of      187                         187              110                                  180            74 411           133 366         120 701          220 000
           Johannesburg

           City of                   117            117              42                                                  50 331           82 700          135 352
           Tshwane

           Ekurhuleni                145            145              92                                   114            143 673          162 897         143 438          160 336

           Metsweding                30             30               –                                                   4 135            7 164           7 974

           Sedibeng                  61             61               19                                                  34 363           22 225          15 134

           West Rand                 85             85               40                                                  30 242           40 031          29 982

           Gauteng                   625            625              303                310                              337 154          448 383         452 581
          * Households in informal settlements to be upgraded between 2010/11 and 2013/14 (Outcome 8 ): 96,760 in Gauteng.
                                                                                                     19

                              While both LaPsis and Atlas databases rely on provincial data and should therefore be aligned
                              with provincial estimates, there are often differences. For instance, the Ekurhuleni Municipality
                              estimates 114 informal settlements while LaPsis reflects 145 in this municipality. There are
                              significant discrepancies at a household level; the City of Johannesburg estimates 220,000
                              households living in informal settlements while the 2007 Community Survey indicates 121,000
                              households living in shacks not in backyards and the 2001 Census reflects 74,000 households
                              living in EAs classified as informal settlements.

                              These differences most probably arise as a result of different data currency; provincial or municipal
                              estimates may have been collated more recently than national estimates. Variances may also
                              reflect a lack of alignment regarding the definition of an informal settlement as well as different
                              data collection methodologies and sampling biases.

                                 Outcome 8 relates to Sustainable Human Settlements and Improved Quality of Life. National government has agreed on twelve outcomes as a
                              19 

                                 key focus of work between 2010/11 and 2013/14.
page 17
                                                                         GAUTENG      research report

Part 4

Profiling informal
settlements in Gauteng
    The analysis of survey data investigates the characteristics of the dwellings and the profile of
    households and individuals living in shacks not in backyards. As noted this variable is a proxy
    for households who live in informal settlements. Where available, Census 2001 data relating
    to households who live in Informal Settlement EAs has been summarised in the introductory
    comments at the start of each sub-chapter.

    4.1 Basic living conditions and access to services
    In 2001, 31% of Gauteng households living in informal settlement EAs had piped water in their
    dwelling or on their yard. A further 32% could obtain piped water within 200 metres of their
    dwellings. 29% had access to piped water in excess of 200 metres from their dwellings (there
    is no indication of how far away the water source is) while 9% had no access at all. 23% of
    households in informal settlement EAs had flush toilets, 48% used pit latrines, 10% used bucket
    latrines and 4% had chemical toilets; the remaining 14% had no access to toilet facilities. 21%
    of households in informal settlement EAs used electricity for lighting and 53% had their refuse
    removed by the local authority.
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          GAUTENG    research report

                    Key trends relating to access to services for households living in shacks not in backyards are
                    summarised in the chart below.

                     cha rt   6

                      Access to services: Household lives in shack not in
                      backyard in Gauteng
                                   Toilet facility                                                      Source of drinking water
                           %                                                                   %
                          100 –                                                               100 –
                                                               7%                                                  3%
                                      13%                                                                                           10%
                                                                                                          10%
                                                              10%                                                                   5%
                                      4%
                           80 –                                4%                               80 –
                                      9%

                                                              26%                                         35%                       27%
                           60 –       27%                                                       60 –

                           40 –                                                                 40 –

                                      46%                     54%                                         52%                       57%
                           20 –                                                                 20 –

                              0–                                                                 0–
                                     Census               Community                                       Census                 Community
                                      2001                Survey 2007                                      2001                  Survey 2007
                                       Pit latrine                                                          Piped water in dwelling
                                       Flush                                                                Other**
                                       Bucket latrine                                                       Piped water in yard
                                       Other*                                                               Piped water on community stand
                                       None

                                   Energy used for lighting                                             Refuse collection
                           %                                                                   %
                          100 –               1%                       1%                     100 –                4%                      1%
                                      10%                                                                  7%                       10%
                                                              20%
                                                                                                           9%
                           80 –                                                                 80 –                                16%
                                      30%
                                                                                                           23%
                                                              30%
                           60 –                                                                 60 –                                23%

                           40 –                                                                 40 –

                                      60%                                                                  57%
                                                              48%                                                                   49%
                           20 –                                                                 20 –

                              0–                                                                 0–
                                     Census               Community                                       Census                 Community
                                      2001                Survey 2007                                      2001                  Survey 2007
                                       Candles                                                              Removed by local authority less often
                                       Electricity                                                          Communal refuse dump
                                       Paraffin                                                             No rubbish disposal
                                       Other***                                                             Own refuse dump
                                                                                                            Removed by local authority at least
                                                                                                            once a week
                      Source: Census 2001 and Community Survey 2007 HH.
                      * Other toilet facilities includes Chemical toilet and Dry toilet facility.
                      ** Other water source incudes Borehole, Flowing water, Stagnant water, Well, Spring and Other.
                      *** Other energy sources includes Gas, Solar and Other.
                      Note: In the 2007 CS, refuse removed by local authority also includes refuse removed by private company.
page 19
                                                                                                            GAUTENG            research report

There is no stable trend across services between 2001 and 2007. The proportion of households
who live in shacks not in backyards who say they have no toilet facilities declined from 13% in
2001 to 7% in 2007. Drinking water access and electricity used for lighting both remained stable
between 2001 and 2007. With regards to refuse removal, in 2001 61% of households that live in
shacks not in a backyard had their refuse removed by the local authority. In 2007, 51% had their
refuse removed by the local authority or a private company.

As has been highlighted, a word of caution is required in interpreting this data given potential biases
in the sample design towards more established settlements where service provision is better.

4.2 Profile of households and families
In 2001, 24% of Gauteng households living in informal settlement EAs were single person
households. The average household size was 3.0. 19% of households were living in over-crowded
conditions. The majority of households were headed by males (67%).

According to the 2007 Community Survey, 23% of households in Gauteng living in shacks not
in backyards comprise a single individual, the same as the national average for households living
in shacks not in backyards. According to the Community Survey 34% of Gauteng households
living in shacks not in backyards comprise four or more persons. The average household size of
households living in shacks not in backyards in 2007 is 3.1 (in 2001 this was 3.0), compared to
3.5 in 2007 for those living in formal dwellings (up from 3.3 in 2001). 20% of households living
in shacks not in backyards live in over-crowded conditions20.

Household heads in shacks not in backyards are also noticeably younger than those in formal
dwellings; 39% are under the age of 35 compared to 24% in households who live in formal
dwellings.

436,000 children under the age of 18 live in shacks not in backyards corresponding to one third
of the total population who live in such dwellings. According to the Community Survey 47% of
households in shacks not in backyards in the province have one or more children.

Data from the GHS can be used to explore the relationships between household members in
Gauteng in more detail. While the Community Survey finds that 23% households are single
person households as noted above, the 2009 GHS indicates that roughly one third of households
living in shacks not in backyards comprise single persons. That survey indicates that 20% of
households living in shacks not in backyards are nuclear families comprising a household head,
his or her spouse and children only. Single parent households, at 8% of households in shacks not
in backyards are also noticeable (73% of single parent households are headed by a woman).

28% of households who live in shacks not in backyards contain extended family members
or unrelated individuals21. GHS data from 2004 to 2009 indicates that for households living
in shacks not in backyards, extended and single person households have grown the fastest.
Average household size for shacks not in backyards has steadily decreased from 3.1 in 2004 to 2.8
in 2009.
20
      household is considered over-crowded if there are more than two people per room. It is possible that this estimate is understated in the case
     A
     where more than one household inhabits the same dwelling.
21
     Compared to Gauteng households who live in formal housing, the household composition in shacks not in backyards differs most noticeably
      with respect to single person households and households that contain extended family or non-related members. 21% of households in formal
      dwellings comprise a single individual while 31% include extended family members or non-related members. 26% are nuclear families and 9%
      single parents – statistics which are not very different from those relating to households living in shacks not in backyards.
page 20
          GAUTENG        research report

                    4.3 Income, expenditure and other indicators of
                    wellbeing
                    4.3.1 Income
                    While both the 2001 Census and the 2007 Community Survey gather some data on income, the
                    quality of this data is relatively poor. A far more reliable source of this data is the 2005/6 Income
                    and Expenditure Survey (IES). That data source indicates that over 84% of Gauteng households
                    who live in shacks not in backyards have a household income of less than R3,500 per month
                    measured in 2006 Rand terms. Inflating incomes to 2010 Rands (and assuming no real shift in
                    income) 71% of households living in shacks not in backyards earn less than R3,500 per month
                    in 2010 Rand terms.

                    As expected, that survey indicates that the proportion of households living in shacks not in
                    backyards declines as incomes increase. Around 26% of all households earning less than R3,500
                    (in 2006 Rands) live in shacks not in backyards.

                                             c h a rt   7

                                                Proportion of shacks not in backyards
                                                by income: Gauteng
                                                   % of
                                              households
                                                                                      30%
                                                    30 –        29%

                                                      25 –                                               23%

                                                      20 –

                                                      15 –

                                                      10 –

                                                                                                                 5%
                                                        5–

                                                        0–
                                                              < R850            R850 – R1 499 R1 500 – R3 399   R3 500+
                                                                                  Monthly household income
                                                Source: IES 2005/6.
                                                Note: Income is nominal, weighted to April 2006 Rands.

                    The 2007 GHS indicates that 438,000 adults aged 15 and above living in shacks not in backyards
                    in Gauteng are employed. That same data indicates an unemployment rate of 28%, above the
                    provincial average of 22% for adults aged 15 and above. While unemployment rates are high,
                    according to the 2009 GHS, the primary income source for households in shacks not in backyards
                    is salaries and wages (70%). 10% say their main income source is from pensions and grants and
                    a further 6% rely mostly on remittances.

                    2004 Labour Force Survey data indicates that 32% of employed individuals living in shacks not in
                    backyards are employed in the informal sector, a proportion that is above the provincial average
                    (16%). 52% are employed in the formal sector (two thirds of them are permanently employed)
                    and a further 15% are domestic workers22.

                    22
                         Sample sizes are too small to assess employment in agriculture.
page 21
                                                                                                          GAUTENG             research report

4.3.2 Expenditure
According to the IES, the proportion of households living in shacks not in backyards that transfer
maintenance or remittances23 at 50% is well above the average for Gauteng households as a
whole (36%)24.

4.3.3 Other indicators of wellbeing
Aside from income and expenditure data, food security indicators from the GHS can be used
to assess levels of poverty. These highlight high levels of deprivation in informal settlements,
particularly with respect to children25.

     cha rt    8

       Measures of deprivation: Gauteng
          % of
     households
            40 –

                      30%                           31%
            30 –
                                                                                 24%

            20 –                  18%                                                                        18%
                                                               15%
                                                                                            12%
                                                                                                                         10%
            10 –

              0–
                      Run out of food         Limited number of      Insufficient food for                Children ever go to
                        in past year        foods to feed children   children in past year              bed hungry in past year
                                                   past year
                        Informal dwelling/shack not in backyard
                        All Gauteng households (including shacks not in backyards)
       Source: GHS 2009 HH.
       Note: Those questions referring to children exclude those households with no children.

4.4 Age of settlements and permanence
 In 2001, the majority of households living in informal settlement EAs in Gauteng (71%) were
 living there five years previously. In 2001, 25% of households living in informal settlement EAs
 claimed to own their dwelling; 15% rented and 60% occupied the dwelling rent-free. 17% of
 households in informal settlement EAs had another dwelling aside from their main dwelling.

Analysis of data from the 2007 Community Survey indicates that the majority of people living in
Gauteng in a shack not in a backyard in 2007 had been living there for an extended period of
time. Across the province, 63% said they had not moved since 2001.

23
      Both cash and in kind payments.
24
     For single person households living in shacks not in backyards in Gauteng, this proportion is 51%.
25
     ‘Did you rely on a limited number of foods to feed your children during the past year because you were unable to produce enough food/are
      running out of money to buy food for a meal?’; ‘Did your children ever say they are hungry during the past year because there was not enough
      food in the house’; ‘Did any of your children ever go to bed hungry because there was not enough food/money to buy food?’ – Yes/No.
page 22
          GAUTENG        research report

                         cha rt   9

                          Year and province moved from: Gauteng
                          Year person moved into this dwelling                                 Province lived in before moving
                          (Lives in an informal dwelling/shack not in backyard,                to this dwelling*
                          Gauteng)                                                             (Lives in an informal dwelling/shack not in
                                                                                               backyard, moved in after 2001, Gauteng)

                                                                                                                                                   LP
                                                                  2%                                                  Outside RSA
                                                                                                                                                  12%
                                                                                                                          3%
                                                             5%                                                                                GA MP
                                                                       3%                                                          NC
                                                                                                                                              65% 6%
                                      63%                                                                                          5%
                                                              6%
                                                                                                                                         FS
                                                                                                                                        2%            KZN
                                                           9%                                                      NC
                                                                                                                                                      3%
                                                                                                                   0%
                                                 12%
                                                                                                                                    EC
                                                                                                                                    3%
                                                                                                          WC
                                  2007       2001-2003                                                    0%
                                  2006       Born after October 2001
                                  2005       Have not moved since October 2001
                                  2004                                                                        Source: Community Survey 2007 Persons.
                                                                                                              Note*: Sample sizes for some provinces less than 40.

                    According to the 2009 GHS, 89% of households living in shacks not in backyards indicate that
                    they were living in a shack not in backyard five years previously26. The survey does not indicate
                    whether the dwelling or the broad location of the dwelling is the same.

                    There may be some basis for a degree of scepticism when looking at this data. As noted in the
                    overview of data sources, there may well be a sampling bias towards older, more established
                    settlements. In addition, if households in informal settlements believe there is a link between the
                    duration of their stay in that settlement and their rights either to remain in the settlement or to
                    benefit from any upgrading programmes they may well have an interest in over-stating the length
                    of time they have lived in their dwellings.

                    The 2009 GHS asks respondents when (i.e. in what year) their dwellings were originally built27.
                    The data indicates that 24% of shacks not in backyards were built within the past five years.
                    At first glance this would appear to be at odds with the statistic cited above that almost 90%
                    of households living in shacks not in a backyard were living in that same type of dwelling five
                    years ago. However, as already noted, that data does not necessarily imply the household lives
                    in the same dwelling, or in the same location. Further, given the poor condition of many shacks
                    (discussed in Section 4.6 below) and the vulnerability of many settlements to fire and flooding, it
                    is entirely plausible that many shacks are completely rebuilt frequently28.

                    26
                         all South African households in shacks not in backyards, the proportion is also 89%.
                        For
                    27
                        It would be unsurprising if many households, particularly those that rent their dwellings or those that occupy older dwellings, do not know
                         when their dwellings were constructed. In such cases, the questionnaire directs respondents to provide a best estimate. There is no indicator in
                         the data as to whether the household has estimated the answer or knows the answer.
                    28
                       The exact survey question is: ‘when was this dwelling originally built?’. Enumerators are instructed to ‘mark the period in which the dwelling
                        was completed, not the time of later remodeling, additions or conversions. If the year is not known, give the best estimate.” It is not entirely
                        clear how a household who has recently rebuilt its shack following its destruction in a fire would answer the question. Does the year in which
                        this dwelling was originally built refer to the original dwelling or to the rebuilt dwelling?
page 23
                                                                                                    GAUTENG    research report

The survey data indicates that shacks not in backyards tend to be older than backyard shacks
as summarised below. This corresponds to trend data relating to main dwelling types which
indicates a higher growth rate for backyard shacks compared to shacks not in a backyard. This is
turn may reflect increased vigilance on the part of municipal officials and a greater determination
to prevent the creation of new informal settlements. Alternatively, it may reflect sample biases.

cha rt   1 0

  Year current dwelling was originally built: Gauteng
  Shack not in backyard
                                                                                              36%
                                                              34%
                                                                                                              24%

                      6%*

  1940                                       1990                              2000                 2005            2009

  Shack in backyard                                                                                           42%
                                                                                              33%

                                                              20%

                      5%*

  1940                                       1990                              2000                 2005            2009

  House/dwelling on separate stand
                      46%

                                                              25%
                                                                                              15%
                                                                                                              11%

  1940                                       1990                              2000                 2005            2009
  Source: GHS 2009 HH.
  Note: The survey states that if the year is not known, the best estimate should be given.
  Although it is not shown here, this accounts for the very few ‘unspecified’ responses.
  * Sample size small (< 40)

Data on tenure status can also provide an indication of permanence. The primary survey categories
include rental, ownership (with or without a mortgage or other form of finance) and rent free
occupation. Survey data on tenure from various data sources is summarised below. Broadly
speaking, data from the 2001 Census, the 2007 Community Survey and the 2009 General
Household Survey paint a similar picture. These sources indicate that while rental is relatively
uncommon for shacks not in backyards (in contrast to backyard shacks where rentals dominate)
a larger proportion of households say they occupy their dwelling rent-free rather than own their
dwelling. Data from the Income and Expenditure Survey differs markedly. It is not clear why this
is the case.
page 24
          GAUTENG    research report

                    cha rt   1 1

                       Dwelling tenure across different surveys: Gauteng

                                       HH lives in an informal dwelling/                          HH lives in an informal dwelling/
                                       shack not in backyard: Gauteng                             shack in backyard: Gauteng
                     Total number
                     of households 448,383         452,581      480,796       489,075             185,586      267,292       307,551    174,555

                     % proportion
                     of households
                             100 –                                                        100 –
                                        12%           9%                        8%*
                                                                  15%
                                                                                17%
                               80 –                                                        80 –

                                                                                                                 58%           64%       65%
                                                                                                    63%
                               60 –                  60%          50%                      60 –
                                        59%

                               40 –                                                        40 –
                                                                                75%
                                                                                                                 22%                     7%*
                                                                                                    19%
                                                                                                                               26%
                               20 –                                                        20 –
                                                                  35%
                                        29%          29%                                                                                 27%
                                                                                                    19%          19%
                                                                                                                              10%*
                                   0–                                                       0–
                                     Census 2001 CS 2007        GHS 2009 IES 2005/6           Census 2001 CS 2007            GHS 2009 IES 2005/6

                                          Owned            Occupied rent-free           Rented

                       Source: Census 2001 (10% sample), IES 2005/6, Community Survey 2007, GHS 2009; Household databases.
                       Note: The breakdown of ownership does not include ‘Other’ due to small sample sizes.
                       * Sample size is less than 40.

                    Data on tenure status can be difficult to interpret. On the one hand those who say they own
                    their dwellings may be communicating a strong sense of belonging and permanence despite the
                    informal nature of the dwelling. Alternatively those who say they own their dwellings may simply
                    be referring to their ownership of the building materials used to construct their dwellings. While
                    some respondents who own the physical materials used to build their dwellings, but not the land
                    on which it is located, may indicate they occupy their dwellings rent free, others may justifiably
                    indicate that they own their shacks. Data on rentals is also difficult to interpret. Some households
                    who say they rent their shacks may own the building materials but rent the land; if they were to
                    be evicted from the land they would still retain possession of the dwelling materials. Other renter
                    households may rent both the structure and the land.

                    4.5 Housing waiting lists and subsidy housing
                    According to the 2009 GHS, 215,890 (45%) of households in shacks not in backyards have at
                    least one member on the waiting list for an RDP or state subsidised house. Conversely, of the
                    660,543 households with at least one member on the housing waiting list, one third live in shacks
                    not in backyards, 38% live in a dwelling/structure on a separate stand, 15% in a backyard shack
                    and 7% in a backyard dwelling/house/room. More than 50% of Gauteng households in shacks
                    not in backyards have been on the waiting list for five or more years.
page 25
                                                                        GAUTENG       research report

Data from the 2009 GHS explores whether any household members have received a government
housing subsidy. For households living in shacks not in backyards a very low percentage (4%)
report having received a subsidy. Of course many households living in informal settlements that
have received a subsidy are unlikely to own up to this.

Data from the same survey can be used to explore how many households who live in shacks not
in backyards might be eligible to obtain a subsidised house. Criteria include a household income
of less than R3,500 per month, a household size of more than one individual, no ownership of
another dwelling, and no previous housing subsidy received. Using these criteria, around 187,000
Gauteng households living in shacks not in backyards (39% of households in this category) appear
to qualify to be on the waiting list.

When interpreting this data it is important to recall the definition of households used in surveys.
Households are not necessarily stable units nor are they necessarily comprised of individuals who
would choose to live together if alternative accommodation was available. It is therefore plausible
that some households may reconstitute themselves if one current household member were to
obtain a subsidised house.

4.6 Health and vulnerability
The 2009 GHS indicates that approximately 21% of individuals who live in a shack not in a backyard
say they have suffered from an illness or injury in the past month. This is not noticeably different
to the disease burden reported by those living in formal dwellings. Of course the subjective
‘norm’ may differ across communities. More affluent individuals living in formal dwellings in
well-serviced neighbourhoods who are generally in good health may have a lower ‘sickness
threshold’; the symptoms they experience when they report being ill may not warrant a mention
by an individual whose immunity is generally compromised. It should also be noted that there
may be an age skew; those who live in informal settlements are on average younger.

Holding other things constant, one should therefore expect a lower burden of disease for those
living in shacks not in backyards.

Those living in shacks not in backyards are more likely than those who live in formal dwellings to
use public clinics as their primary source of medical help. About 60% walk to their medical facility
and three quarters take less than 30 minutes to get there using their usual means of tranport.
This is not noticeably different from those who live in formal dwellings. Once again a word of
caution is in order; the data may be biased towards better established dwellings that have access
to facilities.
page 26
          GAUTENG    research report

                    cha rt    1 2

                       Access to health facilities: Gauteng

                                     Primary source of                          Usual means of                 Time taken to travel
                                     medical help                               transport to health            to health facility
                                                                                facility                       using usual means
                      Population                                                                               of transport
                      totals in
                      segment 1,282,044             8,475,117                 1,282,044        8,475,117      1,282,044     8,475,117

                           % of
                           people
                           100 –                                                         3%
                                       7%
                                               1%*                                                                            13%
                                                                                                                26%
                             80 –                      38%                       33%              38%

                                                                                                                              38%
                             60 –                              3%
                                       76%                     3%
                                                                                                  20%           44%

                             40 –
                                                       44%                       61%
                                                                                                                              47%
                             20 –                                                                 40%
                                                                                                                30%
                                       14%             10%
                              0–
                                     Shack not        Formal                   Shack not         Formal        Shack not      Formal
                                    in backyard      dwelling                 in backyard       dwelling      in backyard    dwelling
                                         Private doctor/specialist                  Walking
page 27
                                                                                                            GAUTENG             research report

live in traditional dwellings (34% have weak or very weak walls or roofs) and formal housing29
(where the corresponding statistic is 7%).

4.7 Education
In 2001, 14% of Gauteng adults aged 18 and above living in informal settlement EAs had no schooling;
17% had a Matric and a further 2% completed Technikon, University or other Post Matric.

According to the 2009 GHS, four out of five adults aged 18 and above living in shacks not
in backyards have not completed matric. 6% have no schooling. Only 5% of adults in shacks
not in backyards have completed Technikon, University or other Post Matric. School attendance
for children under the age of 18 living in shacks not in backyards in Gauteng is slightly lower
than for the province as a whole30; 86% of children aged 5 to 18 who live in shacks not in
backyards go to school compared to the provincial average of 93%31. A more noticeable gap is
evident for younger children; 26% of children aged 0-4 living in shacks not in backyards currently
attend an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) compared to 42% for the province as a
whole while.

79% of school-going children who live in shacks not in backyards walk to school, the vast
majority in under 30 minutes. As has been highlighted above, a word of caution is required
in interpreting this data given potential biases in the sample design towards more established
settlements. There is no data to determine whether these schools were built to service a newly
created informal settlement or whether the school was originally built to meet the needs of more
formal communities in the vicinity. In the case of the latter, the existence of a school may have
been part of the impetus for the creation of an informal settlement.
 cha rt       1 3

       Usual mode of transport to educational facility by children
       aged 5-17 (Live in shacks not in backyard): Gauteng

                                                                                                                 Time taken to
                                                                                                      31 min+    educational
                                                                                                       21%*
                                                                                                                 facilities: walking
                                                                                                                 % of walking children

              It takes less than
                                                                                                      15 – 30
            one hour to get to                                                                          min
                                         50 870                  187 935
          educational facilities                                                                       47%
                                          21%                     79%
        for 98% of children in
          Gauteng using other
            forms of transport
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